Make a simple roofline location sketch

Draw for location, not for measurement

If your property has several roof levels, an extension or a return around a corner, a rough sketch can be easier to understand than a long paragraph. Its purpose is to locate the work you mean. It does not need accurate scale, roof angles or technical symbols. A rectangle for the main house and another shape for the extension may be enough to distinguish the sections involved.

Label familiar directions such as front, rear and side passage. Add the relevant room below an awkward section if that makes the location clearer. The person reading the sketch should be able to connect your description with the building, without assuming the drawing proves dimensions, access or the condition of hidden parts. Write “approximate location sketch” if there is any risk of it being mistaken for a survey.

Add the task beside each section

A roofline can contain several different cleaning requests. You may want debris cleared from a gutter channel, visible fascia surfaces washed or a soffit area considered. Do not use one colour or label to imply all work is included everywhere. Put the requested task next to the relevant section, and leave uncertain items marked as questions.

For example, a hypothetical sketch could show “rear gutter: debris-clearing enquiry”, “front fascia: appearance clean” and “extension corner: unsure which surface is affected”. This gives each concern a place and a purpose. It is more useful than circling the entire roof and writing “clean everything”, particularly when some sections are at different heights or reached through different routes.

Mark what you cannot see

Do not fill gaps in the drawing with guesses about concealed gutters, connections or outlets. A simple question mark is accurate where the arrangement is unknown. Historic England's rainwater-system guidance distinguishes visible external components from concealed or more complex arrangements. A homeowner's location sketch is useful for communication; it does not replace the assessment those arrangements may require.

Keep the drawing based on normal ground-level views and existing records. There is no need to climb, use a roof as a viewing platform or lean out to complete a missing line. If the uncertain section matters to the request, explain that it cannot be seen clearly from the ground and ask what information would help next.

Show the approach separately

Add the gate, side passage or other agreed route that leads towards the relevant elevation. Mark a conservatory, fixed structure or other obvious obstruction. Avoid drawing a route through neighbouring land as if access were already arranged. If an alternative approach is only a possibility, say so. The sketch should reflect the practical situation, including permission and restrictions.

• Name each relevant building section.
• Write the requested task next to that section.
• Mark an uncertain or hidden arrangement honestly.
• Show the ordinary approach and fixed obstructions.
• Note any known damage or repair work separately.
• Keep measurements out unless they are reliable and genuinely needed.

Use the sketch with a short message

Your enquiry still needs the address and the main purpose of the work. The sketch is supporting information, not a replacement for those basics. If a photograph explains one corner better, use it alongside the drawing, taken from a safe ordinary position. Avoid sending a large unlabelled collection in which the same section appears from several angles without any reference point.

Use gutter clearing for the channel-clearing question and fascia and soffit cleaning for the relevant visible surfaces. The final scope should name what is included rather than rely solely on a highlighted drawing.

An ordinary house with straightforward access may not need a sketch at all. Use one when it resolves a real ambiguity. Date the sketch and replace it when an extension or access route changes, so an old layout does not confuse a later enquiry. A small, honest location guide can save explanation while leaving technical assessment, method and feasibility to the actual service discussion.

Choose your next step

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